High risk of blood cancers from livestock farms

28th July 2011

Research has found that children who grow up on livestock farms have up to three times higher risk of developing a blood cancer later in life.

The study is the first to link livestock farming during childhood to an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer though previous studies have suggested adult farmers are at increased risk of blood cancers, possibly because they are exposed to pesticides or infections as a result of contact with farm animals. The research is published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.